Evidence of an unusual Iron Age burial practice has been uncovered in the northern reaches of what is now Scotland. A study published in the journal Antiquity reveals that a female individual, estimated to be over 30 years old, had her brain deliberately removed post-mortem. Archaeologists identified distinctive cuts on the inner surface of her skull, along with a fracture at the base of the skull, indicating a targeted impact.
Dr. Laura Castells Navarro from the University of York, the lead author of the research, explained that the cuts were located where brain ligaments would have attached. Furthermore, four long bones from the woman’s arms and legs had been altered—broken and polished—before being carefully placed back within the grave in their correct anatomical positions. The researchers interpret this as a sign of considerable respect for the deceased, rather than desecration.
The remains were discovered in the year 2000 beneath a stone cairn, alongside the body of a 15-year-old adolescent who showed no signs of injury. Radiocarbon and DNA analysis confirmed that both individuals died between 50 BC and 70 AD and were related. While acknowledging the unique nature of this instance, the scientists state that it aligns with the complex burial customs of the British Iron Age.
About the Author
